As we looked for an apartment in San Francisco, one of my big criterion was a window, overlooking a street, where I could put a table and chairs and watch the traffic, both foot and auto. I had gotten this idea from my daughter’s Berkeley apartment where her dining table overlooked a street with a large church as well as People’s Park. The street was a thoroughfare leading to the UC Berkeley campus as well as downtown Berkeley. Never a dull moment, and I knew I wanted something similar in San Francisco.
I got my wish in quadruplet! I have the bay where I can watch all sorts of ship and boat traffic. The cargo ships come from all over the world. Then there is Herb Caen Way along the Embarcadero, a wide stretch of pedestrian walkway for dog walking, jogging, and people walking to and from a variety of places. The Embarcadero is a main thoroughfare leading in and out of San Francisco, especially to its tourist attractions like Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf. And finally there is a train track that shuttles Muni cars as well as old fashioned trolleys back and forth.
The world goes by
I can sit here for hours and watch the traffic–nautical, auto, and pedestrian. On Saturdays there are weddings on the lawn of Cupid’s Span, or the wedding parties taking photos, capturing the bridge and bay view. The ferries come and go from across the bay. The Harbor Court Hotel is across the street. I wonder who stays there. What are the rooms like? In juxtaposition to all this is the homeless. The homeless encampments change almost daily, but some come and stay for long periods. I have become acquainted with Sondra with whom I share our food.
Sometimes I feel that I am in a big cartoon with all the antics going on outside my window. There is always something happening, never a dull moment. Just like I wanted, a place to watch the world go by, literally.
